Scale



a SheetsSheet 1.

(No Model.)

- 0. G. STRUBLER.

SCALE.

No. 596,727. Paten ted Jan.4,1898.

I I 5 INVENTOH }5 j zm WITNESSES 3 2 l t 3 SheetsSheet 2.

(No Model.)

0. G. STRUBLER.

SCALE.

No. 596,727. Patented Jan.4,1898.

Iva/auto $44M Witnesses:-

NO ModeL) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. C. G. STRUBLER. SCALE.

No. 596,727. Patented Jan. 4,1898.-

INVENTOR WITNESSES UNITED STATES CHARLES G. STRUBIJER,

PATENT EEicE.

OF ELKHART, INDIANA.

SCALE,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 596,727, dated January4, 1898.

Application filed April 1, 1897.

T CI/ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES G. STRUBLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Elkhart, in the county of Elkhart and State of Indiana, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Scales; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvent-ion, such as will'enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in scales, and particularly to thatclass of scales which are adapted to indicate the price of differentnumbers of pounds at different prices per pound, the construction beingsuch that the operation required to weigh an article indicates at thesame time the price thereof.

It consists in certain novel constructions, combinations, andarrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described andclaimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a top plan view of my improvedscale, a portion of the platform being broken away to better show theoperating parts. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the same.Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the weighing-beam and the priceper poundchart. Fig. 4 isa detail sectional view of one end, of the chart. Fig. 5is a crosssection of said chart. Fig. 6 is a cross'section of the chartand the poise used thereon. Fig. 7 is a cross-section ofa chartconstructed in a little different form. Fig. 8 is a side elevation ofthe interior revolving cylinder of the computing-chart. Fig. 9 is asimilar view showing a different arrangement of computing-figuresarranged upon the periphery of said cylinder. Fig. 10 is a perspectiveview of one form of the platform-supporting frame. Fig. 11 is a detailvertical section of a portion of the base of the scale and theplatform-supporting frame. Fig. 12 is amodified form of myplatform-supporting frame. Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the same. Fig.l lis a detail perspective view showing a preferred form of constructionfor the loop-hangers. Fig. 15 is a detail sectional view showing theconnecting loop-hanger employed between the levers of the scale, andFig. 16 represents a modified form of said connecting loophanger.

Serial No. 630,287. (No model.)

A in the drawings indicates a weighingbeam; B, a computing-chart mountedthereon; O, the base of the scale; D, a frame for supporting aweighing-platform E; and F is a rod connecting the levers of saidplatform with the weighing-beam.

In adapting my scale to the purpose of readily indicating the price perpound of articles weighed I construct the weighing-beam A withupwardly-extending arms a a and journaling the computing-panel B betweenthe upper ends of said arms. In this respect the construction of thebeam or weighing-arm is similar to that shown and described by me in myapplication for Letters Patent filed the 15th day of January, 1896,Serial No. 575,629.

The chart I) is preferably formed of a rectangular frame havinglongitudinal side bars I) b grooved on their innersides, the side barsbeing provided with j ournal-shaped end portions 1) 1), adapted toextend into and be journaled in end pieces b 0 The side bars I) Z) aresecured in place by screws passing through the end pieces I) andextending into the ends of the side bars I) 1). Between the side bars Z)Z) is mounted the computing-panel 5 consisting, preferably, of twocurved pieces so arranged that their concaved sides are turned towardeach other, their upper and lower edges meeting and extendinginto thegrooves in the side bars Z) Z), by which they are efl'ectually held inplace. One of said curved pieces b is provided with a longitudinal slot,upon one side extending nearly the full length of the panel. This slotI)" exposes a portion of the surface of an interior cylinderb. Thiscylinder I) is mounted between the end pieces 12 b the shaft of saidcylinderbeing adapted to extend through one of the end bearings andhaving an operating disk or wheel I), mounted upon the outer end of thesame. Each side of the panel is provided with scaleindicating marks andlongitudinal spaces having total-price numerals placed thereon. One endof said panel also is provided upon each side with columns oftotal-price numerals indicating the total prices of higher weights thanthose indicated upon the remainder of the chart, and each of thesecolumns of numerals is provided with numbers at the head of thecolninnindicatingthe number of pounds for which the prices in thatcolumn are computed.

A poise B, consisting of an inclosing band of metal conforming to theshape of the panel, is mounted upon the said panel and is adapted to bemoved back and forth upon the same for indicating the different weightsand total prices. The poise B is also provided with projections orfingers upon one edge which coincide with the longitudinal spaces uponthe panel and point to various indications upon said panel. The poise isprovided upon each side with numerals indicating the different pricesper pound which it may be desired to use in computing values ofdiiferent numbers of pounds. The prices per pound upon one side of thesaid poise are preferably higher prices than those indicated on theother side, one side being a continuation of the other. To the right ofthis column of figures are preferably arranged additional columns offigures indicating the computed prices of higher numbers of poundssimilar to the figures upon the right of the panel, as above described.

In order to increase the capacity of the price-indicating chart, I havedevised my improved form of chart having a centrally-arranged revolvingcylinder. This cylinder is preferably provided with spaces carryingcomputed prices of different weights at higher prices per pound thanthose indicated upon the poise B, as shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings.The prices per pound which this cylinder is adapted to indicate areplaced at one end of the cylinder and preferably, as shown in thedrawings, at the right-hand end thereof. It will be apparent that uponweighing an article, if it is desired to find the price thereof when theprice per pound at which it has been sold is greater than that indicatedby the poise recourse may be had at once to the interior cylinder, whichmay be turned so as to bring the desired price-per-pound mark oppositethe slot b" of the panel. Corresponding computations for the differentpounds will appear opposite the said slot. It will be seen that by thismeans the capacity of the computing-panel may be increased to almost anydesired extent. The capacity of the chart also may be further increased,as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, by providing the cylinder b withspaces having two or more computations at the same price per pound, butfor different numbers of pounds, the said numbers of pounds beingindicated upon the disk or wheel Z), by which the cylinder is operated.This will clearly appear from Fig. Sin the drawings, which shows twolines of computations at sixteen cents a pound, the 1G beingindicated atthe righthand end, one of said lines of computations being adapted toindicate the amounts for thirty pounds and up and the other beingadapted to indicate the amounts for forty pounds and up, the SO and 40being indicated upon the edge of the disk or wheel I). In this case theprice-per-pound numerals on the inner beam or cylinder maybe duplicatedfor the different numbers of pounds.

IVhen the inner cylinder is made large, as in Fig. 7 of the drawings,both of the above-described methods of computation may be employed, forthe computations, as shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings, mayoccupya portionof the periphery of the cylinder, while the computations shown in Fig. 8may occupy the remainder of the said periphery; but, if preferred, onlyone plan of computations may be used on the single cylinder, the otherplan being placed upon another cylinder.

It will be apparent that the panel can be arranged to increase thepriee-per-pound ca pacity of the scale or the computing capacity of thepanel when the price per pound remains the same.

I do not wish to be confined to the shape of the inner and outer panelas I have described them above, so that it will be apparent that I mayconstruct the same of different shapes for instance, as shown in Fig. 7of the drawings, in which both are cylindrical in shape; but I mightform them of six or eight or more sides without departing in the leastfrom the spirit of my invention, the principal requisite being that theinner panel may be adapted to revolve within the outer one. The outerpanel should also be adapted to revolve.

It will be seen that my computing-chart is a double revolving chart orpanelthat is, a revolving computing-chart within a revolving chart.

In order to prevent the computing -panel from shifting its positionlongitudinally with relation to the weighing-beam, I interpose a spring,as If, between one of the journals and one end of the comp uting-panel,as illustrated in Fig. l of the drawings. The feature of taking up theend movement or thrust of the chart by means of a spring is an importantone in this class of beams in order to keep the scale in perfectbalance. It can be seen that should the beam shift from one end to theother it would throw the scale out of balance. The weighingbeam A isprovided with the usual poise and counterpoise and is mounted upon itsfulcrum at a point immediately below the computing-chart. To one side ofthe fulcrum and also beneath the computingchart the load is attached tosaid beam, being connected thereto by a rod F. The rod F extendsdownwardly through one of the supporting-pillars of the frame and isconnected at its lower end to the platform-levers.

The novel construction and arrangement of my platform-supporting frameand levers connected therewith form a very important feature of myinvention. The platform is separable from the frame which supports it,which is of great advantage where there is liability of breakage orwhere it is desired to scare? use a different style of platform, and theframe which supports the platform is so constructed that the suspendingloops upon whichit is hung cannot drop off of the knifeedges or out oftheir proper position, no matter which way the scale may be tipped. I11carrying out this feature I employ supporting-levers G and II. The leverG extends diagonally across the base of the scale and is connected atthe rear end to the lower end of the rod F. The other end of said leveris provided with a horizontally-arranged shaft g. This shaft is providedwith T-shaped end portions g g,carrying knife-edges g g The knife-edgesg are adapted to engage and rest upon supporting-loops g g, hung fromthe base-frame I, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The loops gg consist of a piece of wire bent so as to form a loop and carrying atits lower end a pivoted block g the upper surface of which is concavedand forms the bearing surface for the knife edge The upper end of theloop preferably engages a pendent eye formed upon the under side of theoverhanging portion of the base-frame I. The knife-edges g g arearranged with their bearing edges upon the upper side or just oppositethe arrangement of the bearing-surfaces on the knife-edges g g and areadapted to engage supporting-loops d, by means of which theplatform-supportin g frame is'suspended upon the said knife-edges. Thelever H is similar in construction to the lever G, but is much shorter,the inner end of which extends to a point at about the center of thescale. The outer end is provided with a hori zontal shaft h, similar tothe shaft g, but arranged upon the opposite side of the scale. The shafth is provided at its ends with T- shaped portions h h, carrying theknifeedges 7L2 7L3. The outer knife-edges 7&2 7L2 have theirbearing-surfaces on the under side and engage suspending-loops 7%. Theloops 7t 7r are similar to the loops g g and carry the bearing-blocks7L5, provided with concavcd upper surfaces to receive thebearing-surfaces of the knife edges h 71 The knifeedges 7L3 77, engagethe loops (Z,which support the platformsupporting frame D.

The platform-supporting frame D,as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of thedrawings, is constructed of two side bars d d, which are provided upontheir under sides at each end with depending legs 61 (1 Each of theselegs is provided with an opening d the said opening (1 being closed atits lower end by two parallel cross-bars d d. A cross bar or pin (1 issecured in the bars d d" and forms the hearing by which the platform issuspended from the loops (Z d, the said loops carrying at their ends thebearing'blocks d d, which engage the knife-edges g 7L3. The side bars dd are preferably connected together by cross-bars (1 61 which areadapted to be connected to said side bars by screws or other suitablemeans. The cross-bars d d are preferably made of flat metal and not verythick so that a wrench may be applied to said cross-bars and by twistingthe same to a greater or less extent the platform-supporting frame D maybe trued, so that every corner thereof will rest squarely upon thebearing-loops. This is a very important construction, as in weighing agreat many articles scale-platforms or the supporting-frames thereof areliable to become warped out of shape or twisted. I have found that bythis simple construction the frame can be quickly adjusted and restoredto its proper alinement. occupies an opening 1', formed in the uppersurface of the base I. The frame D is preferably provided withoutwardly-extending lugs d d at its corners, the lugs extending in closeproximity to the bounding walls of the opening 2', so as to limit thevibration of the frame to a small amount.

It will be seen from the above description thatI am enabled to suspendthe platformsupporting frame directly over its pivotal supporting-pointsand it would not be possible to place the frame thus in position withoutconstructing the frame of separable parts, as described. It will also beapparent that when each one of the side bars d d of the frame is placedin position upon the supportin g-bearin gs and they are connected bycrossbars, forming a rigid frame, the loops suspending the same upon theknife-edges are held in such a position as to be effectually preven tedfrom slipping out of place when the scale is moved or tipped in any way.

The inner end of the lever H is provided with a knife-edge 7t, and thisknife-edge is connected with the knife-edge g, arranged centrally of thelever G, by means of a connecting-loop g The loop g carries twobearing-blocks g g, provided with concaved sur faces to engage thebearing-surfaces of the knife-edges g 7t. In this manner the wholesupporting-frame is suspended in such a manner as to have the properleverage upon the connecting rod or bar F and the weighingbeam A. Theside bars d d are provided upon their upper surface with bosses d d,which engage corresponding recesses upon the under side of the platformproper, E, and thus hold the said platform in proper position upon thetop of the frame D. It will be apparent that platforms of differentmaterial or of different sizes maybe mounted upon the frame, as desiredAs shown in Fig.10 of the drawings, 1 also contemplate constructing theplatform-supporting frame D by using corner-piecesj j, having dependinglegs j, similar to the legs (1 and having laterally-extending lugs j attheir upper ends, by which they may be connected together withlongitudinal connecting-barsj and cross connecting-barsj. These bars jj" are preferably flat bars like the bars d and afford the same means oftruing the platform as that above described. The bars 9 j are preferablyarranged vertically with respect to their thickness, while the bars 3 7The frame D ing-block.

are horizontally arranged. In this construction the bosses are formedupon the upper surface of the corner-pieces jj to receive the platformproper.

As shown in Figs. 12 and 1-3 of the drawings, the supporting-frame D forthe platform may be also constructed by connecting the corner-pieces bydiagonal bars without departing in the least from the spirit of myinvention. In this construction of platform the corner-pieces 71; 7c areconnected by diagonally-arranged bars 7t" 73. The bar 7t" connects thediagonally opposite corner-pieces 7t, and the bar 79 connects the othertwo diagonally opposite pieces 7.; 7a. The bars 7t k are provided withshort coinciding central portions which are made thinner than the remaining portions of the bars and he one upon the other, and screws orrivets are passed through the same for holding them together.

In each of the constructions of platforms above described it will beevident that by inserting longer or shorter connecting-bars theplatformframe maybe made of different lengths or widths to correspond tothe size of scale upon which they are to be used. The suspending-loopsused upon the frame and supporting levers may be constructed by bendinga loop of wire the desired shape and inserting the bent-up ends into theaperture in the bearing-blocks; but I also contemplate forming the saidloops by passing a wire through the aperture in the bearing-block, asshown in Fig. 1-1 of the drawings, and bendin g the upper ends so as tooverlap each other, as at Z, the said ends being flattened slightly tomake them fit nicely and at the same time not to destroy the continuityof the wire. This forms a very effective construction for the loops andone that enables the loops to be easily put in position.

The connecting-loop g for connecting the levers G and Il may beconstructed, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 15 of the drawings, by passinga single piece of wire through one of the bearing-blocks and bendingthese ends so as to extend into the aperture in the other bear- In Fig.16 may be seen another manner of forming the connecting-loop. In thisconstruction the bearing-blocks m on may be connected by side bars in m,rivets m m passing through the said bars and blocks for holding themtogether.

It will be found that my improved scale is so constructed as to enableone to weigh articles of great range of weight and to compute the pricethereof at different rates per pound with the simple process necessaryto be gone through with for weighing any article. The manner of formingthe platform-supporting apparatus is so simple and yet so well arrangedas not to be liable to get out of or der and yet to be so delicately andcarefully hung as to make the Work of the scale reach a high degree ofperfection.

I do not wish to confine myself to a single inner revolving beam, as twoor more cylinders could be used, if desirable, one within the other,without departing from the spirit of my invention.

lVhile I have shown a slot or opening on only one side of the outerchart, it is obvious that the chart could be provided with openings onboth sides, if desired.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a scale, the combination with a suitable platform-supportingmeans, of a weighing-beam connected therewith and provided withupwardly-extending arms, a weighing and computing panel pivoted betweensaid arms consisting of a frame, a chart mounted therein, said chartbeing hollow and provided with a slot in one side, a revolublecylindrical chart mounted within said outer chart and adapted to revealcomputations opposite to the said slot and a sliding poise upon saidpanel, substantially as described.

2. In a scale, the combination with platform -supporting means, atare-beam connected therewith having 11 pwardly-extendin g arms, acomputing-panel pivotally mounted between said arms consisting of asuitable frame, a chart mounted in said frame comprisingoutwardly-curved pieces having scale divisions and longitudinal spacesupon their outer surface, said spaces being provided with monetarydivisions for indicating the different prices of different weights, oneof said curved pieces being provided witha longitudinal slot, a centralcylindrical chart mounted interiorly of said curved pieces and havingone end of its shaft extending beyond one of the supporting-arms and adisk upon the end of said shaft for revolving the said cylindricalchart, substantially as described.

In a scale the combination with platformsupporting means, a tare -beamconnected therewith having upwardly-extending arms, a computing panelpivot-ally mounted between said arms above the fulcrum-point of the saidbeam consisting of a suitable frame journaled in the ends of the arms, achart mounted in said frame comprising outwardlycurved pieces havingscale divisions and 1011- gitudinal spaces upon their outer surface,said spaces being provided with monetary divisions for indicating thedilferent prices of different weights, one of said curved pieces beingprovided with a longitudinal slot, a central cylindrical chart mountedinteriorly of said curved pieces and having upon its exterior surfacelongitudinal spaces provided with price-per-pound numerals andcomputations for different numbers of pounds, means for revolving saidchart to bring the required computations opposite the said slot, a poiseadapted to slide upon said panel having priceper-pound numerals thereonand computations of prices for different numbers of pounds,substantially as described.

a. In a scale the combination with suitable platform-supportin g means,a tare-beam connected therewith having upwardly-extending arms at eachend, a panel pivotally mounted between said arms consisting of a framehaving side grooved bars for holding a chart beneath them and end barsfor connecting the said side bars and a spring adapted to be illterposedbetween the end of the chart and the end of one of the journalstherefor, whereby the chart is adapted to be held longitudinally withrelation to said tare-beam for preventing the throwing out of balance ofthe said beam, substantially as described.

5. In a scale, the combination with an inclosing base, of aplatform-supporting frame having side bars provided with depending legs,bearings mounted in said legs for supporting them upon knife-edges, theconstruction of the inclosing base and legs of the supporting-framebeing such that the said bearings cannot slip from the knife-edges upontipping the scale, and connecting-bars for joining the said side barswhereby the said platform may be mounted in said base and suspended uponthe said knife-edges, substantially as described.

6. In a scale, the combination with an inclosing base, of aplatform-supporting frame having side bars provided with depending legs,bearings mounted in said legs for supporting them upon knife-edges, theconstruction of the inclosing base and the said legs being such that thebearings will not become detached from the knife-edges upon tipping thescale, and flat connecting-bars for joining the said side bars wherebyupon twisting the said connecting bars the supportingframe may beadjusted and trued and the platform may be mounted in the base,substantially as described.

7. In a scale, the combination of a separable plat-form-supportin gframe having pendent projections at the corners and loops looselymounted in said projections for supporting the said platform-supportingframe, the construction of the said pendent projections being such thatthe said loops cannot be accidentally displaced'and means for supportingthe said loops upon the base of the scale, substantially as described.

8. In a scale, the combination with an inclosing base, of a platformsupportin g frame comprising side bars provided with depending legs,bearings mounted in the said legs fonsupporting them upon knife-edges,the construction of the inclosing base and the legs of thesupporting-frame being such that the hearings will not become disengagedfrom the knife-edges upon tilting the scale, and connecting-bars forjoining the said side bars whereby the platform may be mounted in thebase and the sides of the platform may be Varied to suit differentscales by making the connecting-bars of different lengths, substantially as described.

9. In a scale, the combination with a plat form, of a supporting-framehaving depend" ing legs adapted to inclose and engage sup porting-loops,said frame comprising connecting-bars adapted to connect the saiddepending legs whereby the frame may be made larger or smaller byinserting different-length bars, levers for supporting the said loops,loops for suspending the said levers from the base of the scale andmeans for connecting the said levers, substantially as described.

10. In a scale, the combination with a platform, of a platformsupportingframe having depending legs provided with inclosing recesses, loopsmounted in said recesses and en gaging knife-edges for supporting thesaid frame in the scale-base, the construction of the depending legsbeing such that the loops will not become disconnected from the knifeedges upon tipping or moving of the scale, substantially as described.

11. In a scale, the combination with a plat form, of aplatforill-supporting means com prising levers havinghorizontally-arranged shafts, oppositely extending end portions uponsaid shafts, knife-edges secured in said end portions, suspending-loopspivotally an n g from depending eyes on the base of the scale, saidloops being adapted to support the outer knife-edges of the said levers,a platformsupporting frame having depending legs provided with inclosingrecesses, loops pivotally mounted in said recesses and adapted to engagethe inner knife-edges of said levers for supporting the saidplatform-frame upon the same and means for connecting the said levers,substantially as described.

12. In a scale, the combination with a plat form, of aplatform-supporting frame, comprising depending legs adapted to engageknife-edges for supporting the said frame in the scale-base,connecting-bars for joining said depending legs whereby the frame may beadjusted and projecting lugs near the corners of the frame for limitingits lateral and longitudinal movement, substantially as described.

13. Ina scale, the combination of one or more revolving compnting-ehartsmounted within an outer revolving chart, said outer and inner chartsbeing provided with weights and monetary divisions upon their outersurfaces, the outer revolving chart or charts hav ingsight-openings,substantially as described.

1%. In a scale, the combination with a plat form, of aplatform-supportin frame having depending legs provided with recessespartially inclosing the loops which are pivoted therein and which engageknifeedges for supporting the said frame, the frame having centerconnecting means for connecting the depending legs, substantially asdescribed.

15. In a scale, the combination with an in closing base, of aplatform-supporting frame provided with recesses at its corners, andloops loosely mounted in the said recesses and adapted to engageknife-edges for supporting the said frame, the construction of thesupporting-frame being such that the bearings will not become misplacedwith respect to supporting-frame being such that the bearings will notbecome misplaced with respect to the knife-edges upon tipping the scale,sub- 1 stantially as described.

In testimony whereof I al'lix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES G. STRUBLElIt.

Witnesses: 7

JAMES B. Rownnr, BEN THARP.

